3 things to do before you start packing for your move

Packing for a move is no small task, so it’s important that you start early (most moving companies recommend beginning about six weeks in advance). Moreover, there are several steps you should take before you begin boxing your items. Do these three things before starting and your move is likely to go off without a hitch.

1. Do away with excess
This is the perfect time to get rid of possessions you no longer want or need. Donate, sell and discard anything that’s no longer useful. The more you unload now, the less you’ll need to move later.

2. Gather supplies
Must-have moving supplies include boxes, scissors, packing tape, packing paper, Styrofoam peanuts, bubble wrap, markers for labeling items and garbage bags. Some other supplies that might come in handy are adhesive labels, sealable plastic bags and a tape dispenser.

3. Take stock of your belongings
Since being organized saves you time and energy, making a list of all the items you want to move is extremely beneficial.

It’s best if you organize your inventory by room and then determine which things can be packed away earliest — something you can do by color-coding items with a highlighter. The underlying strategy is to separate the packing process into several phases, and it’s consequently ideal if you group together items you can pack away at different times leading up to your move (i.e. five weeks in advance, three weeks in advance, one week in advance, etc.).

If there are whole rooms you’re able pack up early such as a spare bedroom, extra bathroom or the garage, this is definitely a plus.

Once you’ve done all this, it’s time to start packing. Start early and follow your list and you should have a straightforward and hassle-free move.